Insulated railroad tank cars



Aug. 29, 1967 E. A. PHILLIPS 3,338,85

INSULATED RAILROAD TANK CARS Filed OCJL 25, 1965 United States Patent Office 3,338,185 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,185 INSULATED RAILROAD TANK CARS Earl A. Phillips, La Grange Park, Ill., assignor to Union Tank Car Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,460 7 Claims. (Cl. 10S-358) This invention relates to railroad .tank cars .generally of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,907,284. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved insulated version of such tank cars.

As generally outlined above, the present invention contemplates an improved form of insulated railroad tank car. Preferably, such tank cars'embody the structure disclosed 4in fthe aforementioned United States Letters Patent 2,907,284 wherein the cars do not require the conventional underframing that had previously been typical of such tank car constructions. 'In a more detailed sense, the invention contemplates specific improvements in an insulated form of railroad tank car wherein the transported commodities or materials are contained within a commodity confining tank shell that is in turn substanti-ally entirely surrounded by a layer of thermal insulating material.

It Ais an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of insulated railroad tank car.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary thermal insulating means for use in insulated railroad tank cars.

A further object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary thermal insulating means for use in insulated railroad tank cars so that thermal energy transfer through uninsulated portions of the tank car is essentially eliminated.

An additional object of the present invention Ais to provide a combined insulating and discharging means which both minimizes thermal energy transfer through uninsulated portions of a railroad tank car and, .at the same time, facilitates the discharge of a commodity from the car.

` Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from .the following detailed descn'ption of .one preferred embodiment thereof, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of one end of an insulated railroad tank car incorporating the combined insulating .and discharging means contemplated by the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in FIGURE 1; and

FGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in FIGURE 1.

Referring generally to the drawings, the invention is directed to improvements in insulated railroad tank cars that are designed to effect .the handling and transportation of commodities which are to be maintained in the tank cars under other than -ambient temperature conditions (e.g., under either high or low .temperature conditions). Accordingly, such materials must be stored and maintained Within the .tank under conditions such that a minimal amount of thermal energy is transferred to or from the commodity in .the interval of time between loading and unloading. Such insulated .tank cars include an elongated and fully enclosed commodity conining tank shell that is an integral and structurally stable assembly. A pair of railroad car body bolster and stub sill 'assemblies are joined to the oppositely disposed ends of the vtank shell so as to eifect .the necessary support therefor, it being understood that the tank car is constructedsubstantially as shown in the aforementioned United States patent so that the conventional tank car underframing is eliminated. The tank shell is preferably confined within an outer jacket. or housing that forms an enclosure for and effects .the confinement of an insulating layer that substantially entirely surrounds the tank shell except at those few locations whereat the tank is joined to portions of the body bolster and stub sill assemblies. Typically, such a tank car lincludes at least one discharge port that is located generally centrally between .the extremities of the car.

In accordance with the invention, .a combined insulating and discharging means is joined in integral relation with the .interior surface of the tank adjacent and in complementary relation to those surface portions of the tank shell (i.e. the underside of the extremities thereof) that are joined to the body bolster and stub sill assemblies. Preferably, the combined insulating and discharging means comprises a pair of plate members that .are integrally joined to the inner surface of the tank shell, with one each of the plate members being secured adjacent one each of .the end extremities of the shell. The plate members are preferably mounted in angularly disposed relation within the tank shell so as to coact with each other and with the internal surfaces of the shell .and thereby provide a funnel-like lower, Iinternal wall configuration that facilitates the discharge of the commodity from the tank and through the discharge port located in the central portion thereof.

More particularly, the plate members are mounted in spaced relation to the lower, internal tank shell surface so that an insulation accommodating region is defined at each end of the tank adjacent the locat-ions whereat the -tank shell is joined to other of the tank car structural components. In this latter connection, these regions are designed to accommodate any of a variety of thermal insulatingmatexials so as to preclude the passage of thermal energy to or from the stored commodity.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGURES 1-3 depict .an end port-ion of -a typical insulated railroad tank car adapted with the combined insulating and discharge means of the present invention. .In this latter connection, these gures illustrate .a section 10 of an insulated version of a railroad tank car corresponding essentially to that disclosed in the aforementioned United States Patent 2,907,284, and although only one end portion of the car is shown it will be .appreciated that the other end thereof is similarly constructed and adapted with the present invention. For purposes of clarity, various structural details inherent in the tank car have not been illustrated.

`In FIGURE l, the tank car is depicted 4as including an elongated commod-ity confining tank shellll, which is an integral, structurally stable and fully enclosed cylindrical unit that is supported at the opposite ends thereof by conventional body bolster and stub sill assemblies, the pertinent portions of which .are designated -by .the numeral 12 in FIGURE 1. As shown, .this enclosed tank shell 11 is, in a conventional manner, surrounded by an outer housing or jacket 13 so as to define .an insulation receiving and confining region 14 `substantially entirely laround the external surface of the .tank shell. As with previous insulated ltank car constructions, the characteristics of the insulation used to fill the region 14 are dictated both by the nature of the commodity confined within the tank 11 land the temperature `conditions that are sought to be maintained in the vinterval of time between the loading and unloading of the commodity.

Referring more specifically to FIGURES 2 and 3, the illustrated portions 12 of Ithe conventional body bolster and stub sill assembly that is joined to and provides .the support -for the end of the tank shell 11 include a support plate 12a and a pair of stub sills 12b. In a conventional manner, `these structural members are joined to the remaining components (not shown) of the body bolster land stub sill assembly, and the complete assembly is secured to 'a conventional truck bolster as illustrated in Patent No. 2,907,284.

Considering the structural features just described it will be appreciated that the confinement of a commodity within the tank 11 under other than ambient temperature conditions tends to result in heat transfer either to or from the confined substance. However, the utilization of an insulating layer in the region 14 between the surface of the tank shell 11 and the jacket 13 results in the elimination of a substantial amount of such heat transfer. Neverltheless, the direct connection of portions of the body bolster and stub sill assembly to the underside of the tank shell 11 affords a direct path for thermal conduction between the commodity, the tank shell and these structural members. To eliminate this circumstance the present invention contemplates a combined insulating and discharging means which not only essentially eliminates heat transfer between the tank shell and the combined body bolster and stub sill assemblies but also enhances the discharge of the stored commodity from the tank shell 11.

In this connection and with reference to FIGURES 1 and 3, it will be seen that the region adjacent the lower inner end of the tank shell 11 is provided with projecting and `somewhat curved anges or mounting members 17a that are joined together to provide a continuous supporting surface or ledge 17 that complements the curvilinear configuration of the lower portion of the tank car extremity and the desired sloped disposition of a plate 18, as hereinafter more fully described. The supporting ledge 17 is designed to receive and form the mounting base for the plate member 18, which preferably although not necessarily has a curvilinear or concave configuration that complements both the arrangement of the individual flanges 17a as well as the interior configuration of the tank shell 11.

As shown, the lianges 17a are secured to the interior surface of the tank shell 11 (eg. by welding or the like) so that the plate 18, when properly supported thereon, is sloped toward the central portion of the car as best shown in FIGURE 1. Because of this desired sloped mounting configuration, the supporting ledge 17 that receives the plate 18 forms an essentially wedge shaped peripheral supporting surface, and the plate 18 is formed to properly mate with this surface. It is clear that the somewhat unusual wedge-shaped configuration stems from the combination of the circular cross sectional configuration of the tank shell 11 with the mounting of the anges in the sloped position on angularly disposed segments of the interior surface of this shell. As a result of the mounting arrangement for and the configuration of the plates 18 at each end of the tank shell 11, these units coact with each other and with the internal surface of the shell to yield a funnel-like lower tank shell surface that is directed toward the central tank shell discharge port (not shown).

Preferably, the plate 18 is secured to the fianges 17a by welding or other suitable means so that gaps and/ or leakage ports around the peripheral edge of the plate are avoided, When properly mounted, the plate 18 defines an insulation accommodating region 19, the other confines of which are the closed tank head 11a and the portion of the lower tank shell surface to which the body bolster and stub sill assembly components are joined.

In accordance with the present invention, any of a variety of insulating media can be employed in the regiony 19 deiined by the plate 18 and the enclosed tank shell wall segments. For example, a monolithic block of an insulating cement or a vitriied ceramic composition can be utilized, as can a foam type of insulation. In addition, granular insulating compositions can be used as the filler for the region 19.

Notwithstanding the specific type of insulation material that is employed, the present invention contemplates thatA this material completely ll the region 19 so that any void spots or the like are eliminated. This latter consideration has particular significance insofar as the structural stability of the `combined insulating and discharging means is concerned. In this latter connection, void spaces in the region 19 can, in response to forces that are generated in the car during transport and/or during coupling of the tank cars, result in 'buckling or similar distortive movement of the plate 18 such that the stability of this mem- 'ber might be adversely affected. For example, if the central portion of the plate 18 is not firmly supported on a layer of insulation but rather Ican be subjected to `oscillatory or similar movement due to the shifting of the stored commodity or because of the forces imparted to the tank car, there is the possibility that discontinuities might be created in the peripheral mounting for the plate. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a contiguous and, preferably, densely compacted insulating configuration beneath lthe plate 18.

The insulating media used in the region 19 are preferably formed either as a monolithic block or similar ininsulating material can -be positioned prior to the mounting of plate 18 on the ledge 17, or can -be formed in theV chamber 19 after introduction thereto through suitable apertures (not shown) in the plate after the mounting thereof (i.e. these apertures being securely sealed after such operations). However, in those instances where the insulating media is poured in place (eg. an insulating, lightweight concrete), it may be appropriate to employ additional means for maintaining an essentially constant distribution of the material beneath the plate so as to safeguard against the possibility `of void spaces in the region 19.

An example of the foregoing situation would be under circumstances where the enclosure defining members, including the plate 18, expand to a greater degree than the confined insulating material. As a result of this differential expansion, a minor, generally uniform spacing might be expected to be created, for example, between the insulating material and the plate 18. Normally, such `a spacing would not detract from either the integrity of the insulating body or the lcontinuity of the mounting for the plate member. However, it is possible that an undesirable condition might ultimately result in a given case if the insulating body is not maintained in place or is subject to force that would lead =to the break-up of the material and the creation of void spaces in the region 19.

In anticipation of and to preclude such undesirable conditions from arising, it is preferable to use suitable anchoring members with a poured-in-place form of insulating material. More particularly, the diiculty noted above can be avoided if the lower portion of the region 19 is adapted with a screen-like member 21 (e.g. a conventional concrete reinforcing screen) that is welded in place adjacent the lower inner surface of the tank shell. In addition, such a screen-like member 22 is preferably welded 'at suitable locations ito the inside surface of the plate 18 prior to positioning the plate on the supporting ledge 17. Thereafter, the plate 18 is secured in place, as previously described, and the lightweight, insulating concrete is, in a conventional manner, introduced to the region 19 through suitable apertures in the plate. Because of the presence body of insulating material that lls the region 19 is positively held in place notwithstanding dierential thermal expansion or other conditions which might otherwise ultimately result in void spaces being created in the region beneath the plate 18.

In a typical insulated version of a railroad tank car constructed as shown in Patent No. 2,907,284 (i.e. a 20,000 gallon tank car designed to transport asphalt), it is preferable that the region 19 provide approximately 12 inches (i.e. maximum depth) of an insulating, pouredin-place concrete between the plate 18 and the segments of the tank shell that are joined to the structural components of the combined body bolster and stud still assemblies. In addition, it is preferred that the plate 18 Ibe mounted to achieve this spacing and at the same time provide a sloping discharge surface having an' angular disposition of approximately 5 degrees.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate-that the basic tank car construction disclosed in the aforementioned United States patent also incorporates a body bolster assembly adjacent each of its ends. For purposes of clarity, these body bolster assemblies have not .been illustrated with respect to the aforedescribed embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the structure of the present invention also insulates against the transmission of thermal energy to or from the tank shell through the components of the body bolster assemblies that are secured to the shell.

In this connection, the major portion of the body bolster assembly can be insulated from the tank shell through the use of insulating means external to the shell. However, to the extent that the body bolster assembly cannot besuitably externally insulated from the tank shell such insulation is vprovided by Ithe present invention. That is, the aforedescribed mounting of the plate 18 results in insulating material being provided adjacent the lower curved side wall portions of the tank shell as well as along the bottom of the tank shell.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved form of insu lated railroad tank car. The structure of the present invention not only minimizes and substantially eliminates the transmission of thermal energy to and from a cornmodity stored within the tank shell but also provides :a unique internal lower wall surface in the tank so that the discharge of the stored commodity can be readily and eilciently carried out.

However, it should vbe appreciated that the 4a-foredescribed embodiment is merely illustrative of the invention, and various modications in the structure previously described might be devised by those skilled in the art. For example, the plate 18 might be employed in a planer rather than a curvilinear configuration and, in a variety of circumstances, the anchoring members can be eliminated entirely from the region 19 notwithstanding the structural configuration of the plate 18 and/or the type of insulating media that is used. These and other similar changes in the structure of the illustrated embodiment would not constitute a departure from the invention, various features of which are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an insulated railroad tank car -for handling `and transporting ymaterials under other than ambient temperature conditions and wherein the tank car includes an elongated and enclosed commodity confining tank shell, a pair of railroad car Ibody bolster and stub still assemblies for supporting the oppositely disposed ends of said tank shell, and an outer housing that forms an enclosure for and effects the confinement of an insulating layer that substantially entirely surrounds said tank shell except in the regions adjacent the lower surface of the extremities of said tank shell whereat said tank shell is joined to said assemblies; a combined insulating and discharging means, said insulating and discharging means, said insulating and discharging means comprising a pair of support structures, one each of said support structures being joined to the interior surface of said tank shell in conning relationship relative to the lower inner surface of one each of said tank shell extremities adjacent the location whereat said shell is joined to said assemblies; a pair of plate members, one each of said plate members being secured to one each of said support st-ructures so as to define a fully enclosed housing for insulating material; and insulating means intimately confined within said enclosures defined by said plates and the adjacent lower inner surface of said tank shell.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said plate members are curvilinear members which co-act with each other and with the internal surfaces of said tank shell to provide a funnel-like lower, internal Wall configuration.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein said insulating means is a monolithic body of insulating material.

4. An insulated railroad tank car yfor handling and transporting materials under other than :ambient temperature conditions, which tank car comprises an elongated and enclosed commodity coniining tank shell; a pair of railroad car body bolster and stub still assemblies for sup porting the oppositely disposed ends of said tank shell; an outer jacket joined to said tank shell so as to define an enclosure for and effect the confinement of an insulating layer that substantially entirely surrounds said tank shell except in the regions adjacent the lower sur-face of the extremities of said tank shell whereat said tank shell is joined to said assemblies; and a combined insulating and discharging means, said insulating and discharging means including a pair of support structures, one each of said support structures being joined to the interior surface of said tank shell in confining relationship relative to the lower inner surface of one each of said tank shell extremities adjacent the location whereat said shell is joined to said assemblies; a pair of plate members, one each of said plate members being secured to one each of said support structures so as to define a fully enclosed housing for insulating material; and insulating means intimately conlined within said enclosed housings defined by said plates and the adjacent lower inner surface of said tank shell.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 and wherein said plate members are curvilinear members which coact with each other and with the internal surfaces of said tank shell to provide a funnel-like lower, internal wall configuration.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 and wherein said insulating means is a monolithic body of insulating material.

7. In an insulated railroad tank car for handling and transporting materials under other than ambient temperature conditions and wherein the tank car includes an elongated and enclosed commodity conlining tank shell, a pair of railroad car body -bolsters and stub still assemblies for supporting the oppositely disposed ends of said tank shell, and an outer housing that forms an enclosure for and effects the confinement of an insulating layer that substantially entirely surrounds said tank shell except in the regions adjacent the lower surface of the extremities of said tank shell whereat said tank shell is joined to said assemblies; a combined insulating and discharging means,

said insulating and discharging means comprising a pair of generally wedge shaped support structures, one each of said support structures being joined to the interior surface of said tank shell in confining relationship relative toV the lower inner surface of one each of said tank shell extremities adjacent the location whereat said shell is joined to said assemblies; a pair of curvilinear plate members, one each of said plate members being secured to one each of said support structures so as to deline a fully enclosed housing for insulating material; a monolithic block of insulating material intimately confined within each of said enclosed housings defined yby said plates and 7 8 the adjacent lower inner sur-face of said Itank shell; and FOREIGN PATENTS means for anchorincy said 'blocks of insulating material within said enclosedohousings. l; germany' References Cited 5 I ermany' UNITED STATES PATENTS ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primm Examiner. 2,102,124 12/1937 Lithgow 2S05.12X 3,163,434 12/1964 Krueger ZSC-512 D. E. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,338,185 August 29, 1967 Earl A. Phillips It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 5, lines l2 and 65, and column 6, lines 23 and S6, for "still", each occurrence, read sill Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. IN AN INSULATED RAILROAD TANK CAR FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIALS UNDER OTHER THAN AMBIENT TEMPERTURE CONDITIONS AND WHEREIN THE TANK CAR INCLUDES AN ELONGATED AND ENCLOSED COMMODITY CONFINING TANK SHELL, A PAIR OF RAILROAD CAR BODY BOLSTER AND STUB STILL ASSEMBLIES FOR SUPPORTING THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ENDS OF SAID TANK SHELL, AND AN OUTER HOUSING THAT FORMS AN ENCLOSURE FOR AND EFFECTS THE CONFINEMENT OF AN INSULATING LAYER THAT SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY SURROUNDS SAID TANK SHELL EXCEPT IN THE REGIONS ADJACENT THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID TANK SHELL WHEREAT SAID TANK SHELL IS JOINED TO SAID ASSEMBLIES; AN COMBINED INSULATING AND DISCHARGING MEANS, SAID INSULATING AND DISCHARGING MEANS, SAID INSULATING AND DISCHARGING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUPPORT STRUCTURES, ONE EACH OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURES BEING JOINTED TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID TANK SHELL IN CONFINING RELATION SHIP RELATIVE TO THE LOWER INNER SURFACE OF ONE EACH OF SAID TANK SHELL EXTREMITIES ADJACENT THE LOCATION WHEREAT SAID SHELL IS JOINTED TO SAID ASSEMBLIES; A PAIR OF PLATE MEMBERS, ONE EACH OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO ONE EACH OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURES SO AS TO DEFINE A FULLY ENCLOSED HOUSING FOR INSULATING MATERIAL; AND INSULATING MEANS INTIMATELY CONFINED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURES DEFINED BY SAID PLATES AND THE ADJACENT LOWER INNER SURFACE OF SAID TANK SHELL. 